Cross Post: Accepting Job Offer while Pregnant

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Birth center, LDRP, L&D, PP, nursing education.

I just receieved a phone call from a facility I had four interviews with. The last interview (and all) went very well. I missed the phone call but they left a message. I'm anticipating a job offer.

If they offer the job, I am 22 weeks pregnant. I feel that it would be fairly obvious from interviews, but I did wear a bulky blazer (the only suit I could buy on short notice that fit!) The administrator of the nursing home is the one I must call back.

I'm a very sincere person. I'm not a very good liar, and I'm certainly very torn up about what the proper thing to do is. I don't want to affect anyone else, and know that my impending leave may hurt someone. I know they can't retract the job offer becuase I'm pregnant, but I also know I have to be careful, because I'm not yet covered by FMLA

If they offer the job, should I thank them, accept, and announce "as you probably know, I'm 22 weeks pregnant..."?

Should I wait to notify HR after accepting?

Or should I wait til my first day? Or first week?

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

I think you should definitely let them know, after they offer you the job. I'm not sure who you would need to talk to, probably someone in HR or managment. I don't think delaying telling them is a good idea, as you are already 22 weeks and it's not something you didn't know, does that make sense? If you were just 6 or 8 weeks you could probably fudge around telling them for a few weeks, but 22 weeks is quite a bit farther along and they may have already figured it out anyways.

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Technically unless you're planning on taking an unusual amount of leave time after the birth of your baby, you're not obligated to inform them of your pregnancy unless you choose to. They will deal with your maternity leave the way they would with any employee that goes on leave.

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

I would think she would have to tell them after she was offered the job and accepted...it's not something she should really continue to hide is it?

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Specializes in Birth center, LDRP, L&D, PP, nursing education.

Thanks for the input. With everyone's assistance, and some old posts, I've called back the administrator.

I was going to accept the job, discuss pay, start date, and then say "I just wanted to be upfront that I am pregnant and due September 10th". I'm not sure if I should say anything else?

I'm waiting for the call back! :eek: Nervous!

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Technically unless you're planning on taking an unusual amount of leave time after the birth of your baby, you're not obligated to inform them of your pregnancy unless you choose to. They will deal with your maternity leave the way they would with any employee that goes on leave.

While I tend to agree with this post, I also think that not mentioning it before starting the job could be construed as deceptive and might put you on the bad side of your manager, which could make for an unpleasant work environment. In a perfect world it shouldn't matter, but it might.

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I didn't show until well advanced into my pregnancies. I had a job interview when I was 6 months pregnant and did not tell the interviewer. (BTW, it is against the law for them to ask!)

I was offered the job and accepted. During my first week, I revealed the fact that I was pregnant. The only surprise my manager showed was that he couldn't tell! LOL! HR folks were saying...."If you can hold on past your due date our medical policy will cover you" (Uh, thanks - but, NO!)

Part of what I believe helped me....This was my 4th child. I didn't take long to recover and I was back at work in 2 wks. After my 5th was born, I took 1 week off and went back to work. :D

I would have waited until AFTER I started the job before telling them. Firing you for "being deceptive" would still be illegal. You can't fire someone for getting pregnant (even in a war zone!)!

JMHO.:twocents:

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I didn't show until well advanced into my pregnancies. I had a job interview when I was 6 months pregnant and did not tell the interviewer. (BTW, it is against the law for them to ask!)

I was offered the job and accepted. During my first week, I revealed the fact that I was pregnant. The only surprise my manager showed was that he couldn't tell! LOL! HR folks were saying...."If you can hold on past your due date our medical policy will cover you" (Uh, thanks - but, NO!)

Part of what I believe helped me....This was my 4th child. I didn't take long to recover and I was back at work in 2 wks. After my 5th was born, I took 1 week off and went back to work. :D

I would have waited until AFTER I started the job before telling them. Firing you for "being deceptive" would still be illegal. You can't fire someone for getting pregnant (even in a war zone!)!

JMHO.:twocents:

No one said anything about getting FIRED for possibly appearing deceptive. I was only suggesting that the OP may find it unpleasant to work with the manager in this case. Besides, I wouldn't expect that a manager would make it obvious that she was unhappy about finding out that the OP was pregnant after the fact, if that indeed turned out to be the case since it IS illegal, but we all know that management does things they aren't supposed to and get away with it because it's not overt and can't be proven.

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Specializes in Birth center, LDRP, L&D, PP, nursing education.

I want to let him know before I begin the job, because I'd rather not leave my old one if they're going to find an excuse to fire me, or not let me take time off for my maternity leave (so I would have to quit when I delivered) or something else along those lines. I know I won't be covered by FMLA and I'm covered at my current job.

I would feel uncomfortable not letting htem know when I began. I was going to accept the job, negotiate pay and start date, and then tell him in the same conversation.

Does anyone think that would be inappropriate?

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I want to let him know before I begin the job, because I'd rather not leave my old one if they're going to find an excuse to fire me, or not let me take time off for my maternity leave (so I would have to quit when I delivered) or something else along those lines. I know I won't be covered by FMLA and I'm covered at my current job.

I would feel uncomfortable not letting htem know when I began. I was going to accept the job, negotiate pay and start date, and then tell him in the same conversation.

Does anyone think that would be inappropriate?

As someone posted above, you have no obligation to tell them at all until you need time off for the birth. Personally, I wouldn't feel right not telling them when hired, but you have to do what feel will work for you.

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Specializes in Birth center, LDRP, L&D, PP, nursing education.

I got the job offer, negotiated the pay and start date, and then told him I was pregnant. He asked my maternity plans and I said to work until I delivered, and then 4-6 weeks off based on what the Dr decided. He sounded okay with it, and told me all the information that I'd need for when HR calls tomorrow :)

Thanks for all your help-- what a load off my mind. Now I just need to resign from my other job

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Specializes in Chemo.

It is true that you do not have to say anything, but first impressions are everything. What type of impression do you want to give your new employer? What is going to happen when have to take care a patient with MRSA or active TB, are you willing to hid the pregnancy then???

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